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Unit 4 - Imperialism. The New Industrial World. The Nation-State. The trend in Europe had been toward the dismantling of the old Empires and the formation of Nation-States This process was not completed by the formation of Italy and Germany, these were only examples
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Unit 4 - Imperialism The New Industrial World
The Nation-State • The trend in Europe had been toward the dismantling of the old Empires and the formation of Nation-States • This process was not completed by the formation of Italy and Germany, these were only examples • Nationalist movements continued in most of the old empires
Nation-State • With the formation of the nation-state came a paradigm shift • The idea of the nation-state was based the notion that the ability to compete for power was necessary to survival • This was the beginnings of the philosophy of Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism • Social Darwinism played a major role in the colonialist policies of Europe in the late 19th century. • Social Darwinism agreed with a massive race to colonize Africa and Asia. • Colonization wasn’t new, of course, European countries had been colonizing parts of the globe since the 1500’s when the Spanish conquered most of Central and South America.
Nation-State • As time went by it became more and more apparent that the strength of a nation’s economy was related to the strength of the military • This pressed the nations of the world to work to protest their economic interests
The Changing Role of Empires • When the colonial age began the need for colonies was mainly to collect raw materials such as fish and lumber • This would then be shipped back to mother countries to fuel industry • Colonies were expensive to run and to protect • This was proved by the American Revolution and War of 1812
The Changing Role of Empires • As Britain's place in the world changed so to did the use of its empire • In the early 1800s Britain was the most powerful nation in the world • Britain produced over one third of all of the industrial products in the world • With this kind of economic power Britain had little use for its colonies
Continued • In fact during this period many of the colonies were being encouraged to combine and become self-governed • This attitude changed by the late 1800s as German and American manufacturing increased Britain’s share of the world market dropped • By 1900 British factories were only producing a fifth of the world share of goods
Continued… • Not only was there more competition but foreign nations were now taxing British goods in an effort to stimulate their own industry • Britain was forced to find new markets that would be open to British goods • The answer was the former colonies
Continued…. • British colonies served several purposes • Markets for goods • Source of raw materials • Protected trade routes • Once again colonies were seen as necessary for survival and a measure of a country’s prestige
Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8OEuj6-pVg&feature=related
Assignment • Read pg. 553- 558 • Do focus questions on pg. 553 • Answer section Review Questions 1-5 on pg. 558 • These are due next class